Copenhagen Climate Adaptation
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Copenhagen Carbon Neutral by 2025 COPENHAGEN CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN 2 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 Climate challenges for Copenhagen 3 Strategy 9 PRIMARY CHALLENGES RESULTING FROM CLIMATE CHANGE 13 More and heavier downpours in the future 13 Higher sea levels 29 OTHER CHALLENGES 41 Higher temperatures and urban heat islands in Copenhagen 41 Climate change and groundwater 46 INDIRECT CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE 52 OPPORTUNITIES 57 A climate-proof Copenhagen and a Copenhagen with green growth 63 The significance of climate change for Copenhagen‟s buildings and roads 67 Legislation and planning 72 Emergency preparedness 79 Financing 81 Outlook for climate adaptation in Copenhagen 84 OVERVIEW OF COMBINED EFFORT 85 Project overview 90 INTRODUCTION 3 CLIMATE CHALLENGES FOR COPENHAGEN The earth‟s climate has been in a state of constant change throughout the ages, to which hu- mans, animals and plants have had to adapt. This adaptation has consisted either in abandoning habitats or protecting oneself against climate change, for example by developing technology. Today such great societal assets have been created, particularly in urban areas, that protection of these areas against climate threats can pay for itself even in cases where extensive investments are required. Copenhagen too will be affected by the global changes in the climate. It is therefore important for the city to be prepared for the climate of the future. With this climate adaptation plan we will outline the challenges the city faces in the short and medium terms as a result of changes we expect in the future climate. We will also identify those solutions that, based on our present-day knowledge, appear to be most appropriate and reveal the opportunities climate change may also present to the city. We do not yet know all the consequences climate change will have for Copenhagen, but we will continuously implement the measures required for Copenhagen to continue to be a safe and at- tractive city to live and spend time in. The changes in the climate will happen over a long period of time. It nevertheless makes good sense to start work on climate adaptation now. Doing so provides a good opportunity to analyse challenges and proposed solutions and identify the optimum solutions and consequently avoid making wrong investments. THE GLOBAL CLIMATE CHALLENGE Researchers today are in no doubt that there is a connection between rising CO2 levels in the at- mosphere as a result of human activity and rising temperatures on earth. The consequences and extent of changes in the climate are not yet fully understood. But one thing is clear: the greater the emissions and levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the greater the changes in the climate here on earth will be. 4 CO2 CONCENTRATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE (MEASURED AT MAUNA LOA OBS.) 400 380 360 340 CO2 concentratio320 n (ppm) 300 280 260 240 220 200 YEAR 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 Figure 1: Change in the CO2 concentration of the atmosphere Source: Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). GLOBAL ANNUAL MEAN TEMPERATURE FROM 1850 TO 2008 0,6 0,5 0,4 0,3 0,2 Temperatura nomali0,1 (C) 0 -0,1 -0,2 -0,3 -0,4 -0,5 -0,6 YEAR 1840 1890 1940 1990 Figure 2: Change in global annual mean temperature Source: Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia It is difficult to make precise calculations of the future level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere— and consequently the temperature rises and climate change of the future. This depends on a whole 5 host of factors such as technological and economic development and, in particular, whether success is achieved in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. THE CLIMATE OF THE FUTURE—SELECTION OF PROJECTIONS The climate adaptation plan adopts a development scenario in line with the SRES A2 scenario of the UN‟s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This development scenario is a projection of how the climate will change in the future. This scenario assumes that the global mean temperature will rise by around 3 degrees over the course of the 21st century. This projection includes the reporting that has taken place since COP15 on limiting emissions. In addition, the latest calculations and registra- tions of ice and snow melting show that substantially greater melting is taking place than has been as- sumed in earlier calculations. This means that the consequences of melting are correspondingly great- er than previous calculations have assumed. The Ministry of Climate and Energy has recommended that municipalities apply the IPCC‟s A1B scenar- io for planning in relation to climate change over the next 50 years. However, this recommendation came after the work on drawing up this plan had been carried out, where conditions for the calcula- tion of future climate consequences had been chosen and calculation work had started. The City of Copenhagen has used the IPCC‟s A2 scenario as a basis for assessing future climate impacts. It makes virtually no difference in relation to a timeframe of 50 years, as the two scenarios are almost identical within this period. It is not until timeframe of 100 years that there is a significant difference between the two scenarios. But as there is great uncertainty over the future development of the cli- mate, no purpose is served by deciding in favour of one or other scenario. One should instead look at the direction in which development is moving, as the projections become better, and regularly up- date the need for climate adaptation measures in accordance with the new knowledge we acquire on the climate of the future. This plan therefore does not recommend investments being made now in relation to the long-term projections but instead recommends taking account of the need for climate- proofing in municipal planning so that urban development does make appropriate implementation of climate adaptation measures impossible. In terms of measures in 50 years, the choice between A2 and A1B thus does not make any difference in relation to recommendations on action. No one knows precisely how the world will develop technologically, in population terms, politically etc., or precisely how this will affect the climate, and whether this will be overlain by natural disasters etc. The figures and projections in this plan are thus chosen on the basis of best available knowledge on how the climate may perhaps develop and the consequences that will follow from this. The assess- ments have been essentially based on the IPCC‟s reports, the latest reports from the Danish Meteoro- logical Institute (DMI) in connection with climate strategy for the Capital Region, the publications of the Water Pollution Committee of the Society of Danish Engineers and the high-water statistics of the Danish Coastal Authority etc. The projections contained in the plan are not considered to the final. But they can be used to illustrate the consequences of the possible climate changes focused on in this plan. It is worth noting in this con- nection that even if success is achieved in making substantial reductions in global emissions of green- house gases, the quantity of greenhouse gases that has already been emitted will inevitably lead to changes in the earth‟s climate. The predictions on the climate of the future will become steadily more precise as the climate models are developed. This will provide a better basis for assessing the necessary measures for climate adapta- tion. The next report from the UN‟s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is expected in 2013. The consequences that climate change may have in Copenhagen come gradually, but the pace of de- 6 velopment of predicted to increase steadily, with the most substantial changes occurring after 2050. Climate adaptation is undertaken in stages in relation to the latest knowledge on climate change and the tools for adaptation that are developed. Staged adaptation makes possible adaptation that, in ad- dition to being based on the latest knowledge and technology, is also adapted to development in so- ciety with respect to consumption of resources and functionality. The municipality‟s work on climate adaptation must therefore promote integrated planning of the city and its infrastructure to the benefit of the population and the environment. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS IN CLIMATE ADAPTATION MEASURES To achieve successful adaptation of the city to the climate of the future, it is important that we con- sider a number of key factors: FLEXIBLE ADAPTATION It is pointless to plan in the very long term according to a particular scenario for future development in the climate. The City of Copenhagen will instead develop the city in relation to the main trends in the scenario and adapt the planning the whole time in relation to development in the recommenda- tions emanating from the IPCC. SYNERGY WITH OTHER PLANNING Incorporating climate adaptation in those sectors that are affected by climate change is therefore of crucial significance in utilising the strategy achieved by joint thinking on the action taken. Climate adaptation can be transformed into an asset for the city and help to secure growth in Copenhagen. HIGH TECHNICAL LEVEL Adapting the city to climate change is expensive. It is therefore important that the basis for decisions on investments and prioritisations is at a high technical level, so that wrong investments are not made. This situation applies to all types of analyses and studies, analyses of climatic threats, choices of solution models and economic analyses. CLIMATE ADAPTATION RESULTS IN GREEN GROWTH We have been working on climate adaptation in Copenhagen for many years. Our efforts have been focused on managing stormwater and the opportunities for recreational use and a better environment in Copenhagen‟s areas of water.